Guitar - How to Get Started
- How To Care for Your Guitar - 

Guitars are mostly wood so they are susceptible to the environment around them. The best temperature for your guitar is room temperature. Sudden changes in temperature can cause the finish to crack or more seriously, the wood itself.

When the humidity is very low or when the guitar is close to an air vent or radiator, the wood can dry out and crack. When the humidity is consistently too damp the wood can swell and cause the soundboard to reshape.

You can purchase guitar case humidifiers at your music store. Kyser also makes a guitar humidifier that will also act as a de-humidifer.

One of the best ways to protect your guitar is to store it in it’s case. A quality case will protect the guitar from bumps and bangs. It will protect it from changes in temperature and you can use it along with a guitar humidifier to help stabilize the moisture content of the guitar.

Guitar Cases

Cases are built using several materials and have a wide selection of prices ranging from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars.

A basic, inexpensive canvas bag doesn’t offer much protection from bumps or the weather, however a good quality padded canvas gig bag offers fair protection as well as a light-weight way to carry the guitar. You can get gig bags to fit most guitar sizes. Most are also fitted with shoulder and back-pack straps.

Hardshell cases begin with “chipboard”models. They are essentially pressed cardboard with a stitched vinyl exterior and a glued felt-like material in the interior. They will offer a safe place to store your guitar in the home or for transporting the guitar in non-extreme weather conditions.

The most common guitar hardshell case is plywood covered in leatherette. The interiors of these cases are normally covered with a lush looking furry-type of material or a thick velour or velvet. These cases provide adequate protection under most circumstances for bumps and temperature changes.

If you have a guitar with an uncommon shape such as a Flying V, you will probably need to order the case from the manufacturer unless it’s included with the guitar purchase.

Molded cases such as an SKB(TM) have a plastic outer shell with aluminum tongue and groove edges. The inner shell is a form-fitting material such as Styrofoam(TM) covered with lush velour. These cases cradle your guitar and offer good protection from the elements and bumps.

The TRIC(TM) case looks like Styrofoam(TM) but it is in fact a material similar to what is used in dashboards. Its protection from the elements is excellent. According to the manufacturer, if you were to leave your guitar in your trunk on a hot summer afternoon, this case would provide the best protection. Having said this, the best temperature for your guitar is room temperature.

Aluminum and road cases are also available for the professional musicians who fly or are touring.

Cleaning Your Guitar

To wipe the fingerprints and other marks off of your guitar, it is best to use a soft polishing cloth such as a microfiber cloth and guitar polish. The guitar polish will not only remove any grime but it will also condition the wood and buff to a lustrous shine. There are other products designed specifically cleaning your fretboard and strings.

Guitar Stands

Many people like to leave their guitar out on a guitar stand so that it is handy to pick up and play. Generally this is will not cause a problem. However, there are a few things to avoid.

• Keep the guitar clear of any heat sources such as a furnace heat vent, electric heat or radiators. The blowing air and radiating heat will dry the guitar and this can cause cracking.
• Avoid having direct sunlight shine continuously on your guitar.
• Keep it out of the way of traffic where it could be easily hit or knocked over.
• Blowing air has a drying effect so keep away from air conditioners.

Moving and Storing Your Guitar

It is always best to move your guitar in its case to keep it protected from the weather and from bumps or mishaps.

• If your guitar has been exposed to extreme weather such as being left in the car for a few hours in the winter, leave the guitar in its case for at least an hour before opening it.
• If a guitar has been “frozen,” it must warm back up slowly.
• If it is warmed too quickly, the finish on the guitar will warm at a different rate as the body and this is what causes fine cracks in the finish or even more serious damage.
• Avoid leaving your guitar in the trunk of your car particularly on hot summer days.

When you are storing your guitar for an extended time, loosen each string about one tone, place the humidifier in the case and store it vertically in a closet in a main living area of the home.

• Garages, basements and attics are not good places to store a guitar.
• Guitar humidifiers are very beneficial to the guitar.

Other Tips

• Do not lean your guitar against the wall for an extended period of time.
• Learn to replace your strings properly.

The general rule is, if it’s comfortable for you, it’s comfortable for the guitar. If you should wear a coat to keep you warm, the guitar needs a case to keep it warm. If your lips are dry due to the humidity level, then the guitar also needs additional moisture such as a humidifier.

However, don’t become paranoid. The guitar is not as fragile as it looks!